The Nature of Computing. Why Programming Paradigms and Languages Essay

The Nature of Computing. Why Programming Paradigms and Languages - Essay Example This paper presents a detailed overview of computer programming languages. This paper will discuss the evolution of computer programming languages, change in a diversity of languages and explore how languages such as Python, Perl, Ruby and C# emerged as a convergence of previous languages. Introduction to Programming and Programming Languages The computer programming is the process of writing the computer programs (also called software applications) to solve different kind of problems as well as to manage different processes of the computer. In fact, a computer is useless without a computer program. In addition, a computer program is written after understanding the problem. In this scenario, we must be clear about the processing steps to be performed by a computer. It means that we must understand the logic of the program before writing a program; we must learn how to plan the theoretical framework of the program. Basically, the program instructions are written in such a way that the computer can follow the program instructions in the correct sequence to solve the problem productively. Hence, in order to write an accurate (or successful) program, the programmer must write the program instructions in an accurate order. On the other hand, if the program instructions are not written in a correct sequence, then the result of the program will be wrong. Thus, the computer programs must be planned before they are written into the computer (Shelly et al., 2005; Norton, 2001). Moreover, the programming languages are used to prepare computer programs or software applications. Early computer programs were written straightforwardly in machine language for instance in binary code. Additionally, it was very difficult to write programs in machine code. However, at the present, a wide variety of the programming languages are available for writing different types of programs. In addition, each programming language has its own rules for witting the programs, which need to be fol lowed in order to get accurate results. For instance, FORTRAN is used for scientific purposes, ADA for defense applications, COBOL for business solutions, etc. (Shelly et al., 2005; Norton, 2001). In simple words, the computer programming is an art of writing instructions and problem solving for a computer. However, the standards of programming are independent of the computer programming language utilized. Moreover, different programming languages have different weaknesses and strengths, making different types of programs difficult or much easier to write, however the fundamental theories remain the same regardless of language (Nasir, 1996; Tatum, 2012). Programming Diversities The computer programming languages are divided into two categories: system programming and application programming. The system programming is mainly concerned with the use of a computer system. On the other hand, the application programming deals with the computer programs which are directly utilized by many people. In addition, the application programming paradigm is further divided into more categories such as (Milo, 2007) Scientific programming Business programming Web-based programming Businesses programming Personal or home programming Game programming Embedded systems programming History of Programming Language Generations This section outlines the history of programming in the form of programming langu

Ethnic group Essay Example for Free

Ethnic group Essay Discussion about race and ethnicity has increased steadily over the last several years. Recent discussion has centered on whether the differences between race and ethnicity are necessary, damaging, or beneficial. There is also much to be said about race relations across the globe and many questions to be pondered. Writing about race can be difficult, and discussion about race even more difficult. The idea is that with research and knowledge, it is much easier to have an intelligent, well-informed discussion about issues that affect all of us. Listed below are some possible essay topics: Race vs. Ethnicity Is the idea of â€Å"race† a human construction that is further separating people in countries across the globe? Does science support the idea that â€Å"ethnicity† more clearly defines us, and therefore, should be how we see each other? Discuss the inherent differences and similarities between race and ethnicity and the importance of them. Race issues in American TV shows and movies Explain through examples and research how different races are portrayed on television and/or movies. Are stereotypes exploited? Are stereotypes nullified? What about the presentation of race in cartoons, e. g. , the Disney movies? Race and the criminal justice system It is commonly believed that minorities are at a disadvantage when it comes to the justice system. Is this true? Are there disproportionate numbers of minorities convicted of crimes? Racial profiling Examine the hot-topic debate about racial profiling. Consider situations that might involve profiling: driving; airport screening; renting/buying housing; shopping and shoplifting; college entrance; and job hiring practices. Discrimination in hiring The topic of discriminatory hiring practices can be explored on its own. Available research will include news reports of instances and court cases. Also review the laws in place to prevent such practice. More possible topics: Should racial profiling be a legitimate law enforcement policy in some areas? †¢Should Affirmative Action for state university enrollment be continued? †¢Should the primary method of public school funding (property taxes in individual school districts) be amended to create more fairness in schools? †¢If a university offers â€Å"African-American Studies or Black Studies as courses, should it also offer European-American Studies or White Studies? †¢How do certain television programs perpetuate racial or ethnic stereotypes? †¢Should schools only purchase textbooks that offer revised or alternative perspectives on historical events? †¢What should be done about racial disparities in the sentencing of criminals? †¢Should the American government pay reparations and return land to Native Americans? †¢Should hate groups have the right to distribute literature on university campuses? †¢If research shows that certain racial or ethnic groups receive poorer medical care on average, how should this problem be corrected? †¢Should government organizations have staff that accurately reflect the racial, ethnic, and gender balance in society? Assignment: Choose one of the above listed topics, a combined topic from above, or a topic of your own choosing that somehow relates to the issue of race and ethnicity. Research the topic, choosing at least 3 sources that you can also easily print to bring to class. This will be an in-class essay with two days of writing that will be at least 4 pages. Type a works cited page and bring it to be turned in with the essay and the printed sources.

Selection of Procurement Strategy

Selection of Procurement Strategy 1.0 INTRODUCTION A major determinant of project success is the selection of the most appropriate procurement strategy which will be used as a frame work to acquire the services of professionals in the industry (Morledge at al, 2006). This report presents the stages that have to be gone through in other to select the best procurement strategy for Janus Leisure plc. Before a suitable project strategy can be selected, there are many variables that need to be considered. However, Masterman (2002) explains that with regards to procurement, only those sub strategies which will have an impact on the ultimate procurement strategy should be considered. He therefore describes the process as consisting of: understanding the client, assessing client objectives, identifying the project constraints including risks and the method of organising the design and construction. These points will therefore form the framework of this report. 1.1 CLIENT Clients in the construction industry are becoming complex in their requirements which has subsequently led to increased client dissatisfaction levels (Latham, 1994). It is therefore essential to identify the type of clients being dealt with as this will have an influence in the choice of procurement method. Based on the categorization of clients by Masterman (2002), Janus leisure plc can be described as a private organisation who generates its funds from its internally business activities and therefore are concerned with profit maximisation wherever possible. Furthermore, we can also say that, the client is an inexperienced client in terms of construction as their main business focus is horse racing. It does not involve in construction activities often and only owns 6 racecourses. However, it is assumed that, the client is very aware of what infrastructure of its business should look like. Finally, we can also say that Janus leisure is a secondary client who requires the building to enable it them house their business activities. This therefore means that construction represents only a small percentage of their annual turn over. 1.2 PROJECT SCOPE The company intends to improve its flagship racecourse at Melchester which hosts the 5000 guineas stakes every year. The proposals are to be undertaken in two phases: Phase I demolition of the existing grandstand the construction of a new 5-storey grandstand to include an extensive conference and exhibition centre (10,000m2 total) and associated external works (budget  £25M) refurbishment of two existing stands circa 100 years old (budget  £5M) Phase II construction of a new 120-bed hotel facility and casino (budget  £12M) to be operational for the 2013 5000 Guineas Stakes meeting in mid-September 1.3 CLIENT OBJECTIVES Janus leisure plc has to consider a number of factors in other to choose the best procurement strategy for the project. To provide guidance for client on their decision of the most appropriate procurement strategy to adopt, Turner (1997) proposed a list of seven factors to consider. Completion time variation complexity quality price certainty price competition management and accountability These will be discussed in detail in the next sub section. Client requirements The objectives and requirements of the client in this report have been categorised under cost, quality and time expectations of the client. They also represent the criteria used by the client in the assessment of the procurement strategies. The following criteria as adopted from Turner (1997) has been established and discussed. Cost Relevance of cost certainty Janus leisure plc is a company which aims at maximising profit wherever possible. It will therefore not intend to spend more than it has budgeted for each section of the development. This implies that, high on the priority of the client is to have a fair idea of how much the project will cost prior to the start of the actual construction. Since the company desires to constantly invest in all of its venues over the coming years. It will therefore be preferable that any strategy chosen should be able to give an idea of the total commitment to be expected, since the project is phased, it means that, this will be a tougher consideration for the first phase but will be achieved to higher degree of accuracy I the second phase Relevance of price competition Janus leisure has a total budget of  £42M for the entire project. With this commitment in mind and a fair certainty of the cost, the client does not really place so much focus on the competition for phase 1. Though Turner (1997) explains that best market price can only be obtained through competition, the client is of the view that factors such as time requirement are of more concern to him and any bid which was around his budget was alright for the first phase. With regard to the second phase, since there will be more time., it is the intention of the client to use competition in other to attain the best price as such therefore any opportunities for price competition will be preferred more. Organisation and accountability It is assumed that the client is fully aware of the fact that, risks go with premiums. However, Janus leisure plc prefers a single point responsibility for the construction of the hotel and will be prepared to pay a premium for that. Clamp et al (2007) argues that leaving both design and construction within one entity could have compromising effects on the quality; however, Janus leisure will prefer to have to deal with just one company in other to eliminate the hassle of lengthy negotiations with many professionals. The client requires that it retains the control for the management of the first phase because it is of more importance to him as he needs it to be ready by 2012. Time Early completion This is a very high priority for the client because they intend to return the 2012 5000 guineas stakes to Melchester. This clearly states that phase 1 should be competed and ready for commissioning before that time. It is known that the duration of the fist phase is short as such early start in needs to ensure early completion. Similarly, with the second phase, it must be completed be 2013. Though this seem to be a longer, advantage should be taken to obtain more competitive while maintaining acceptable standards of quality. Therefore, time is of a higher priority in phase 1 than in phase two Phased requirements The proposed developments are in two phases and should be carried out as such, the duration of the first phase is 2 years which should be ready by mid-September 2012 while that of the second phase is three years and should be completed and ready to use by mid September 2013. As a private client, completion time is of a high priority. Quality Variations Janus leisure plc has been describes as an in experienced client, as such there is the possibility for the client to want to change his mind as the project progresses. Furthermore, the extent of the refurbishment in the first phase cannot be fully envisaged. This implies that, there is an increased possibility of significant variations. However, variations will be minimal in the second phase because, Janus has built some hotels in the past and therefore know what exactly they will want to have in this hotel. It is important to consider variations because they entail high costs and have effects on the construction period and also each procurement method deals differently with variations. Level of prestige Horse racing is a sport that is patronised by a large cross-section of the public as well as wealthy and rich; however, the proposals by Janus leisure does not call for a prestigious design though the requirements of the conferencing, banqueting as well as the hotel should be good and incorporate state-of-the-art technology. Project complexity In terms of complexity during procurement, functionality of the project is not an essential requirement however; complexity of the construction itself and the environmental services is usually very significant (Turner, 1997). The requirements of the project are fairly straightforward as the major requirements were air conditioning and public address systems therefore; complexity is not a great problem in the first phase. With the second phase, more facilities like escalators, lifts and air conditioning facilities will be provided but that notwithstanding, we can say that both faces require a good quality. Risk It is important that any risks to the project are to be effectively managed by the party that is best able to handle them. And every procurement system distributes the risks between the client and contractor (Masterman 2002). Some procurement methods allocate more of the risks to the client and others more to the contractor. Since the client want to control of the first phase, they accept to have the risk even though they will prefer to share them wherever possible. Because the client is quite inexperienced in construction, will prefer to leave to as much of the speculative risk as possible with a single contracting entity though they are aware this might mean payment of premiums for the second phase because it will need time to organize its business activities. 2.0 PROCUREMENT SYSTEMS With respect to the client requirement, four procurement methods have been selected to be appraised because of the peculiar characteristics they have which may be of interest and suitability to the project. They are Traditional method Design and build Management contracting Construction management 2.1 TRADITIONAL METHOD This method is referred to by some authors and researchers as the separated system and it is the oldest form of procurement (Masterman, 2002). It is characterised by the separation between the design and the construction phases and therefore offers multiple points of responsibility (Oyegoke et al ,2009). The client first appoints consultants who will be responsible for the design, cost control and contract administration. Once the design in complete, the client and his team invites tenders from suitable contractors and eventually appoints one of them who will be responsible for carrying out the works. There is therefore direct contractual relationship between the client and the consultants and also between the client and the contractor. The contractor is responsible for all the workmanship and materials including work by sub-contractors and suppliers (Clamp et al, 2007). In some cases, the client could novate subcontractors or suppliers with whom the main contractor will have legal c ontracts. The figure below shows the contractual relations of this system. Fig 1: Contractual relationship; The Traditional Procurement Method (Morledge et al 2006) Use of Traditional method of procurement According to Murdoch and Hughes (2008), following the criteria developed by the Joint Contracts Tribunal (JCT 1988), the following are a proposed a list of instances which traditional method is most suitable. The employer has caused the design to be prepared and for the purposes of the building contract takes responsibility for it. The employers designer is sufficiently experienced to co-ordinate and lead the design team and to manage the interface between design and production. The design is substantially complete when the contractor is selected. An independent quantity surveyor will be used to plan and control the financial aspects of the project The contractor is selected on the basis of the contractors estimate and carries the risk that the estimate may be wrong. The employer reserves the right to select sub-contractors for certain parts of the work. ‘Prime cost sums including employer-selected sub-contracts, do not form the major proportion of the contract sum. The employers agents feel that it is important to use an acceptable negotiated form to ensure a fair and familiar distribution of risk. The employer makes no explicit choice and the advisors do not raise the issue. Suitability With regard to the requirement of the client, the traditional method will be very suitable with regard to price certainty which is high on the priority of the client for the first phase. This is because designs will be completely finished and bills of quantities produced which will be priced by tendering contractors. As such, Janus will know its financial commitment to a high degree of accuracy before the start of the project. However, the problem will be whether there is enough time for full designs to be produced followed by tendering before actual construction starts. This is a concern because completion time is equally of high priority to the client and so the traditional method might not be so suitable in that regard. The traditional methods is also one of the best ways to secure best market price as there is competition between tendering firms, however, since competition is not high on the priority of Janus leisure plc for the fist phase, the second phase will take advantage of that. Since variation is to be expected in the project during the first phase, the traditional method will allow, Janus leisure, a flexibility of mind until when the tender documents are prepared for bidding. After this, changes in specification might be very costly and time wasting. It will be suitable for the second phase as well because variation is expected to be even lower. Janus leisure will not be favoured in terms of his accountability requirements for the second phase because Oyegoke et al (2009) explains that this system introduces multiple points of responsibility. 2.2 DESIGN AND BUILD This system is characterised by the integration of the design and construction phases. Masterman (2002) explains that, the commonly used integrated system is the design and build method however there are other variants such as novated design and build, develop and construct, package deal and turn key projects. Within this report, only the design and build variant is considered. The approach leaves full responsibility of the design and construction with a single organisation: the contractor. Rashid et al (2006) explains that, the selection of the most suitable contractor is based on the brief and the specification given by the client at the time of bidding. In effect, the contractor has the total responsibility for all the works, co-ordination and integration of the whole process as well as appointment of any consultants, specialists or subcontractors (Murdoch and Hughes, 2008). Figure 2.2 shows the contractual relation with this system. Fig 2 Contractual relationship: The Design and Build system (Morledge et al 2006) Use of the design and build method According to Murdoch and Hughes (2008), there are some characteristics of a project which determine whether the design and build method will be suitable for a particular project, theses are listed below: The clients familiarity with construction(experience) The relative importance of client priorities (time, cost, function, quality, value for money etc.) The technical complexity of the project The need to make variations to requirements as work proceeds The patterns of responsibility and communication The need for an early start on site. Suitability With regard to the requirements of Janus leisure plc, this method will be suitable in regard to project completion time because of the integration of the construction and design phases will make the project faster, furthermore, since there is a lump sum fixed price for the bespoke design and construction (Masterman, 2002) the client will equally have high degree of price certainty prior to the start of the project. This method will be suitable because for the client in the second phase in terms of his risk allocation requirement as most to the risk will tend to be with the contractor however, it may not be suitable for the first because the client wants to retain more control. Also, design and build will be suitable for the client because the client will only have one contractual relation with the contractor which will march his responsibility criteria. However many researchers including Masterman (2002) and Turner (1997) have argued that since both design and construction are left w ith the contracting firm, there could be possible compromises in the quality expectation in terms of both design and more importantly workmanship and materials, I will also argue that since the client will give a comprehensive brief with little variation for the second phase, this should not be a big problem. It is again worthy to note that the system will not particularly be suited to the variation requirement of Janus leisure plc for the first phase. The criteria established the possibilities of variations as the project progresses, especially in the first phase but the design and build system freezes excessive variation at an early stage when the contract is signed and any changes after that will tend to cost the client lots of money and time. Fortunately, Janus is already aware of this. Again, leaving both the design and construction on the contractor means leaving more risks with him and this will involve payment of premiums as such. 2.3 MANAGEMENT CONTRACTING This is a method of procurement in which the management contractor is paid a fee by the client to manage the whole building process and therefore has direct contractual relations with all the works contractors (Morledge at al, 2006). The management contractor advices on the buildability of the designs as well as value management during the design. The construction works are let out in packages therefore there is early start with this method. The management contractor does not take part in the actual construction but provide preliminaries for the project. The figure below shows the contractual relation with the management contracting form of procurement. Fig 3.Contractual relationship: Management contracting (Morledge et al 2006) Use of Management contracting Murdoch and Hughes propose a list developed by the Joint Contract Tribunal (JCT, 1987a) which indicates suitable circumstances in which to use Management contracting. The list is as follows: The employer wishes the design to be carried out by an independent architect and design team There is a need for early completion The project is fairly large The project requirements are complex The project entails, or might entail, changing the employers requirements during the building period The employer requiring early completion wants the maximum possible competition in respect of the price for the building works. Suitability This system of procurement is desirable in respect of the client priorities of completion time because of the overlap between design and construction, furthermore, as the work will be let out in packages, competition, though not of a high priority to the client, can be used to attain best price. Under this procurement method, the client will also be able to have a fair certainty of the price before the start of the project. The system will also be suitable in terms of the variation requirements of the client for the first phase because the full design is co-ordinated and developed by the client and his team, as such there is much room for flexibility until that package has been let out on contract. With this procurement system, much of the speculative risk is with the client while works contractors take just a little (Clamp et al, 2007) as such this will be acceptable for the first phase but not quite meet the expectation of Janus leisure for the second phase as they prefer to leave much of the speculative risks with the contracting firm. 2.4 CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT With this procurement system, the client appoints the construction manager on the basis of a fee to manage, prepare and co-ordinate the design and construction as well as advising the design team on the buildability of the design (Morledge et al, 2006) as such the client does not allocate risk and responsibility to a single firm because the works are subsequently let out to packages contractors who are in direct contractual relation with the client. The contractual relation with this procurement type is shown below. Fig 4 Contractual relationship: Construction management (Morledge et al 2006) Use of Construction management According to Murdoch and Hughes (2000) Construction management is suitable when the characteristics of the project fulfils in part or whole of the following: The employer is familiar with construction, and knows some or all of the professional team. The risks associated with the project are dominated by timeliness and cost (e.g. the employer may be a private sector employer requiring a commercial building). The project is technologically complex involving diverse technologies and sub-systems. The employer wants to make minor variations to requirements, as the project proceeds. There is scope for separating responsibility for design from responsibility for management of the project. The employer requires an early start on site. The price needs to be competitive, but ‘value for money is more important than simply securing the least possible cost. Suitability This procurement method similar characteristics with the management contract variant, however, there are some differences. The completion time requirements, variation requirement and quality requirements is the same as in the management contracting. However, this system leaves virtually on all the risk on the contractor: a trait which will not suit the requirement of Janus leisure plc. Furthermore, the is no certainty of price as the system works with target sum but advantage can be taken of price competition as the packages are let out to package contractors. Another point worthy on mentioning is that, this method will not particularly suit the responsibility requirement of Janus leisure, who prefer to have to deal with just one contractor. 2.5 RISK SHARING This determines the apportionment of the risks that occur to the party that is able to handle it more adequately than the other. Some procurement methods allocate more of the risks to the client and others more to the contractor, Janus leisure plc is willing to accept some of the risk provided they will be able to foresee it before it occurs for the first phase but will prefer to leave much risk on the contracting firm fro the second phase. The different procurement methods have limits to which the client can tranfer risk. A speculative risk chart according to the different procurement methods can be seen below table 1 : Speculative risk (Clamp et al., 2007) 3.0 SELECTION PROCESS The aim of the selection process is to accurately identify the best procurement route which meets and satisfies the client requirements best (Masterman, 2002). The tables below shows the results of the assessment criteria for the two phases of the project Table 2 priority checklist for phase 1 Table 3priority checklist for phase 2 3.2 PROCUREMENT SYSTEMS FOR PHASE 1 Based on the rating on table 2 and the clients success criteria, the management contracting procurement system has been recommended to be used in the execution of phase 1 Reasons for recommendation It has been established already that time is crucial to the first phase of the developments, as such, this procurement system is suitable because it allows construction to start early once a work section has been completely designed, for example, immediately the foundation are fully designed, the client and his team can give that part out on contract as the designed is continued. The client still retains full control of responsibility of the design as the construction goes on, so since Janus indicates the possibility of variations this will be very much accommodated while the management contractor contributes to the buildability of the designs. The client and his team will also have the chance to select materials and techniques in other to achieve the standard it requires which still reduces maintenance costs. 3.3 PROCUREMENT SYSTEMS FOR PHASE 2 Based on the critical analysis of the critical factors of success for the project as well as the adoption of the table 3 above, the competitive design and build system of procurement has been chosen for the construction of phase 2. Reasons for recommendation The client rates time as important as such, since the contractor is in charge of both the design and construction, there will be an early start of the project on site which will guarantee completion to schedule. However, since the responsibility of the design will be that of the contractor, the client will have to provide a good brief to the contractor in other to eliminate any confusion. This will be required to a great extent so that variations will be reduced to the barest minimum. The design and build procurement method is also best for the phase because the entire of design and construction has been shifted to the client and this suit Janus as a client thought the implication is the likelihood for an increased cost. The client is satisfied with this option because he will have enough time for his own business activities Also, since Janus does not require direct professional accountability for the design and consultants for the second phase, this system proves to be very suitable because the design and build system leaves the entire accountability between the contractor and his team and Janus only has a single contract with the main contractor Janus requires a high degree of price certainty before the start of the construction and the design and build system offers this. Moreover since the requirements indicated that the project is not so complex in terms of technical advancement, the system will be adequate and certain to deliver a product of good quality and workmanship. Finally, the adoption of the competitive variant of the design and build procurement system will give the client and his team the chance to select the best bid from the contractors as a result of the tenders that will be submitted based on the client brief. 3.3 ORGANIZATIONS TO BE COMMISSIONED The consultants to be commissioned for the first phase are as follows: Management Contractor: Engaged very early in the project to provide expert knowledge to other consultants on the constructability of the designs. Architect: Prepares all the necessary architectural designs in accordance with the clients brief and with the management contractor Quantity Surveyor: Carry out feasibility studies, prepare cost estimates and cost plans in conjunction with the designs. Also carry out interim valuations for payment to works contractors, in conjunction with the management contractor. Engineers: Prepare the structural, mechanical and electrical engineering drawings to be priced by the quantity surveyor and form part of the contract documents for executing the works. For the second phase, the client needs to contract a design and build contractor who will be in charge of both design and construction of the facility 4.0 CONCLUSION The proposals by Janus leisure plc have been thoroughly examined and discussed, going through the range of procurement methods and applying the table by CRT, it has been recommended that for a successful execution of the clients developmental proposals, management contracting should be adopted for the first phase while design and build is adopted for the construction of the hotel in the second phase. However, it must be stated that, the success of the project does not only depend on the procurement method used but also on the efficiency of the consultants and the contractors used. Therefore the client should be methodical in the approach for selecting the professionals for the execution of the work.

Singapore Essay examples -- Philosophy, Neoliberal Ideology

In a sense, Singapore has always been driven by neoliberal ideology. In the 1960s and 1970s, Singapore’s economic competitiveness was based upon its ability to generate low-cost manufacturing assembly, its political stability, and geographical location (Yeung, 2000: 142). However, by the 1980s, Singapore was being outcompeted by other developing Asian countries, and met this ‘competitiveness crunch’ with national strategies promoting high-tech business services (Yeung, 2000: 142). Rigorous infocomm programmes were enacted as early as 1980, the IDA maintained sustained drives to promote and educate their citizens regarding ICTs. As a result of the National IT Plan (1986-1991), computer software and services industry increased its revenue 10-fold, the ICT workforce pool grew from 850 to 5,500, and the IT business and e-commerce continued to expand through subsequent programmes (iN2015 Steering Committee, 2006: 33). In 2006, Singapore boasted the highest ratio of infocomm-related patents to total patents in the world, and the iN2015 Steering Committee attributed this success to the national ICT programmes (2006: 36). More than ever, Singapore is a consumer-driven country with a prosperous economy. The infocomm initiatives purposefully drove the economy forward by encouraging business to enter the e-economy and by persuading consumers this was safe and convenient. With the specific aim of encouraging national and international companies to set up e-commerce trading centres in Singapore, the Singaporean government introduced the ‘Approved Cyber Traders’ scheme which entitled qualifying firms to pay less corporate tax (Teo, 2002: 259). A highly sophisticated electronic payment infrastructure encouraged both vendors and consumers t... ...d safeguard against fraud and theft if a strong e-commerce industry is to be fostered. Are ICTs in Singapore being used as instruments of control, and how much are they being utilised as facilitators of open democracy? Democracy relies heavily on a free press, but as Brown points out, this is compromised by neoliberalist corporate ownerships and laws shielding political officials from defamation (2006: 695). This is true of Singapore today. The state controls the broadcast media that is friendly to the government, and defamation suits dissuade journalists from publishing contentious political pieces (O’Hara, 2008: 10). In Singapore, the media coverage of political opposition has long been suppressed, primarily under the justification of ‘national interest’, an ideology of control that has driven the nation’s policy on media control (Lee and Willnat, 2006: 10).

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder?

There is strong pressure for individuals to become beautiful and to find a beautiful mate. Every day, people spend time and money to become beautiful. We may not be aware of it but we are likely to have experienced or witnessed how people use time and seem to have insufficient time in making themselves beautiful. Teenage siblings race to use the bathroom first because a sibling takes an hour or more to prepare for school.A range of beauty products clutter the bathroom cabinet or dresser with products used for different parts of the body or for various purposes and applied during the day and at night.Couples pressure each other to hurry up so they would beat rush hour traffic and not be late for work. People put on make-up, shave or brush their teeth while racing in the motorway. Cosmetic surgery has become popular. These are just examples of how people invest time and money to meet the pressure of becoming beautiful. Beauty is also strong consideration in looking for a partner or sel ecting a mate. Physical beauty is the initial determinant of attraction, which determines an individual’s interest in another person. While perceptions of beauty depend on personal taste, social influences can sway choices and outcomes.Even if a person finds someone attractive, if their friends or peers disagree then chances are they will not end up with that person. Acceptance of a partner by their peers is important to individuals. An interesting question is how far individuals consider social influences in selecting their partners and how well social influences on beauty standards in partner selection guarantee a good relationship. External Influences on Individual Perceptions of Beauty Perceptions of beauty that individuals use in finding and selecting a partner depend on external influences.These external influences not only affect ideas of a beautiful partner but also determine how well individuals meet the acceptable standards of a beautiful partner. The media as deter minant of standards of beauty. The media is a social institution that creates ideas of beauty and influences individual self-perception (Engeln-Maddox & Miller, 2008). The media is the biggest source of ideas of beauty expressed through different venues such as print magazines, television commercials or shows, and online programs. Mass accessibility led to the exposure and consumption of media by many people.Media also provides ideas of body image as a standard of beauty (Gallagher & Pecot-Hebert, 2007). Media changes the perception of individuals about themselves to make people desire the ideal standards of appearance and beauty. A study on the impact of media towards focus on appearance and beauty of African American girls showed that the portrayal of women as sex objects led to the greater consciousness and focus on personal appearance (Gordon, 2008). African American girls exposed to media portraying Black women as sex objects and who identified themselves with the characters in the media developed greater focus on their appearance.Media also affects individual ideas of beauty by causing individuals to make self-evaluations of their attractiveness. A research on the link between media, body evaluation and perceptions of attractiveness of college men and women showed that those who had positive evaluations of their bodies relative to media ideals perceived themselves as attractive while those who negatively evaluated their bodies reported negative effects on their self-esteem (Tyler, Lopez & Flores, 2009).The impact of media on individual ideas of beauty depends on internalization of ideal beauty and dissatisfaction with one’s body or looks. Internalization of ideal beauty means its acceptance and pursuit of this beauty standard (Dittmar, Halliwell & Stirling, 2009). The internationalization of thin models as ideal beauty influences decisions to undergo a physical makeover that could include cosmetic surgery (Heyes, 2007). Dissatisfaction with oneâ⠂¬â„¢s physical appearance also reinforces the impact of the ideal beauty on body image and self-perception (Engeln-Maddox, 2006).Culture as determinant of standards of beauty. People pursue standards of beauty prevailing in the culture to which they closely associate (Englis, Solomon & Ashmore, 1994). Having large eyes, breasts or hips depends on the beliefs of what constitutes beauty in women. In Africa, having large hips is beautiful because it represents fertility. In Latin America, women with large hips are beautiful with beauty showcased in dances. Changes in the beauty norms also cause shifts in individual ideas of beauty.Standards of beauty within a cultural context are exemplified by patterns of consumption (Bloch & Richins, 1993). Different types of cosmetics, hair products, and beauty enhancement procedures are popular beauty commodities in different cultures. Innovations in product development, technological tools, and marketing strategies for these products are a contin uous activity to create and meet demand. Peers as determinants of standards of beauty. Peers are agents of socialization (Campbell, 1980). Individuals learn about what constitutes beauty from peers.Individual attitudes and behaviors towards beauty is a reflection of collective ideas of beauty. The extent of association or identification with a peer group leads to a stronger influence on beauty standards (Campbell, 1980). A study on changing racial stereotypes through peer groups showed that exposure to positive stereotypes about African Americans led to the development of positive stereotyping by the group and its individual members (Tan et al. , 2001). People consider and adjust to the attitudes and beliefs of their peer groups on a number of issues including ideal beauty.Peers also influence perceptions of attractiveness of a potential mate. A study of social influences on interpersonal interaction showed that women were influenced by perceptions of their peers over the physical a ttractiveness of men as shown by personal ratings that considered initial feedback from other women (Graziano et al. , 1993). Peer Pressure and Fear of Judgment as Drivers of Likes and Dislikes Peer groups affect individual likes and dislikes by influencing attitudes, beliefs and behaviors toward beauty and related aspects.Peer pressure and fear of judgment are determinants of individual likes and dislikes. Peer pressure. Individuals are susceptible to persuasion in making decisions and doing actions depending on collective attitudes and behavior of peers (Griskevicius, Cialdini & Goldstein, 2008). If most or all peers adopt a similar attitude and behave similarly towards something, the extent of persuasive influence of peers is higher. Peer pressure refers to the psychological strain experienced by individuals when comparing themselves with their peers (Daido, 2006).If there is a significant gap, then a person feels greater pressure to consider and adopt the common beliefs and prac tices of the peer group. Fear of judgment. Fear is an emotional state that has a direct relationship with threat avoidance (Maner & Gerend, 2007). In peer groups, fear could emerge in the form of apprehensions over judgments from peers that affect acceptability and support from the group as well as anticipation of conflict with the group. The fear drives individuals to avoid the cause of the fear.A way of avoiding the outcomes feared is to comply with group peer beliefs and activities. Physical and Inner Beauty Beauty could be visible or non-visible or both (Fatovic-Ferencic, Durrigl & Holubar, 2003) Visible beauty is physical and observable by sight. Non-visible beauty refers to characteristics or values that may not be viewable but observable through personality, attitudes, decisions and behaviors. Physical beauty and inner beauty are interrelated but one component could dominate the other. A person may be beautiful on the outside but not beautiful on the inside.While the common p erception of beauty is as physical attribute, beauty comprises the balance between the physical and non-physical components. Informed judgments. With beauty having physical and non-physical components, making judgments requires knowing someone first. A study on the length of acquaintance with consensus over personality judgments showed that the longer one knows and interacts with a person, the more accurate the personal judgment is with the consensus over the personality judgment (Biesanz, West & Millevoi, 2007).Time is a factor in knowing a person. Judgments on beauty, covering both physical and inner beauty, require time to know a person. Physical beauty can be judged immediately based on first impression but judgments on overall beauty require knowing the individual first. Cognitive autonomy. Decision-making on life-changing personal matters such as having a relationship or selecting a partner are done individually. Although, external influences are important, people should learn to balance autonomous thinking with social influences.Cognitive autonomy is an important quality especially for young people and adults who face difficult life choices. This concept refer to the ability to evaluate ideas, express opinions, make decisions, use comparative assessments, and do self-evaluations (Beckert, 2007). Developing cognitive autonomy enables individuals to balance personal preferences with external influences. Self-efficacy. Individuals have varying needs and objectives. Although external feedback can help individuals, developing self-efficacy is important for individuals to make a plan and act to achieve their own goals.Individuals have a close understanding of what they want to achieve and self-efficacy is the factor that mediates planning and goal fulfillment (Lippke et al. , 2009). Other people may not have the same extent of understanding of the person’s goals and plans. The plan to enter into a relationship is achievable through self-efficacy. The C urrent Study The study will investigate the concept of beauty, including the distinction of inner and outer beauty, based on the perspectives of a representative sample of senior students at the university.Views and experiences of the pressures of being beautiful and finding the perfect partner based on standards of beauty will also be gathered. The study will then determine the extent that individuals weigh personal taste and social ideals of beauty, particularly peer influences, in finding the perfect partner and the extent that the balance contributes to the success in finding the perfect mate. Hypotheses 1. University students achieve greater balance between personal taste and social ideals of beauty in finding a life partner when beauty is considered as having inner and outer components.2. A balance between personal taste and social ideals of beauty contributes to the greater success in finding a partner. Method Participants The participants will be 60 randomly selected senior students at the university, evenly distributed between males and females. Senior students are those currently enrolled and expected to graduate after completing the current semester and one more semester. Senior university students will be selected as participants because they are likely to encounter the issue of finding a perfect partner as they near graduation and while establishing their careers.Having males and females as participants would determine any differences between perceptions of beauty, pressure of achieving beauty, and selection of the perfect life partner based on beauty. The participants have to bring with them two of their closest peers to provide an assessment of the physical attributes and perceived personality typology of partner choices. The selection of the respondents will be made by coordinating with the school registry to identify senior university students. Of the list obtained, 30 males and 30 females will be randomly selected.They will be contacted to se ek their permission and schedule a session together with two of their closest friends to participate in the quasi-experiment and answer the questionnaire. Those selected who refused to participate will be replaced by randomly selecting from the list until 60 respondents are completed. Materials The data collection instrument is a structured questionnaire with closed questions requiring the selection of a range of answers including yes/no, ranking a list of items, selecting a single answer from a given list, and rating based on extent of agreement or disagreement.The questions or statements cover the four topics on concept of beauty, pressures of being beautiful, finding a lifetime partner based on personal and/or peer ideas of beauty, and extent that personal and/or peer ideals of beauty contribute to the success in finding the perfect partner. Procedure The quasi-experiment will start with the selected participants going over pictures with basic information and personality descript ions of thirty men for women participants and thirty women for male participants. The graduation pictures of individuals wearing togas will be taken from yearbooks to control other visual factors such as clothing.The pictures will be selected to consider diverse physical and personality attributes based on the yearbook descriptions. The respondents will be asked to select one person from the set of pictures as a potential partner. They will rate the physical attributes and perceived personality traits of the person in the picture. Their friends will view the pictures, select one picture they think is the perfect partner for their friend, and rate the physical features and perceived personality type. The participant will be shown the choice of their peers and explanations for the choice.The participants are given the chance to decide whether to retain their choice or select the choice of their peers. Regardless of their choice, the participants will be asked to answer the questionnai re. The responses will be analyzed using descriptive statistics to summarize responses, t-test to determine differences in responses as influenced by gender, and correlation to determine the relationship between variables. References Beckert, T. (2007). Cognitive autonomy and self-evaluation in adolescence: A conceptual investigation and instrument. North American Journal of Psychology, 9(3), 579-594.Biesanz, J. , West, S. , & Millevoi, A. (2007). What do you learn about someone over time? The relationship between length of acquaintance and consensus and self–other agreement in judgments of personality. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 92(1), 119-135. Bloch, P. , & Richins, M. (1993). Attractiveness, adornments, and exchange. Psychology & Marketing, 19(6), 467-470. Campbell, B. (1980). A theoretical approach to peer influence in adolescent socialization. American Journal of Political Science, 24(2), 324-344. Dittman, H. , Halliwell, E. , & Stirling, E.(2009). Und erstanding the impact of thin media models on women’s body-focused affect: The roles of thin-ideal internalization and weight-related self-discrepancy activation in experimental exposure effects. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 28(1), 43-72. Engeln-Maddox, R. (2006). Buying a beauty standard or dreaming of a new life? Expectations associated with media ideals. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 30(1), 258-266. Engeln-Maddox, R. (2008). Talking back to the media ideal: The development and validation of the critical processing of beauty images scale.Psychology of Women Quarterly, 32(1), 159-171. Englis, B. , Solomon, M. , & Ashmore, R. (1994). Beauty before the eyes of beholders: The cultural encoding of beauty types in magazine advertising and music television. Journal of Advertising, 23(2), 46-94. Fatovic-Ferencic, S. , Durrigl, M. , & Holubar, K. (2003). Beauty: Soul or surface?. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2(2), 82-85. Gallagher, A. , & Pecot-Hebert, L. (2007). â€Å"You need a makeover! †: The social construction of female body image in A Makeover Story, What Not to Wear, and Extreme Makeover.Popular Communication, 5(1), 57-79. Gordon, M. (2008). Media contributions to African American girls’ focus on beauty and appearance: Exploring the consequences of sexual objectification. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 32(1), 245-256. Graziano, W. , Jensen, Campbell, L. , Shebilske, L. , & Lundgren, S. (1993). Social influence, sex differences, and judgments of beauty: Putting the interpersonal back in interpersonal attraction. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 65(3), 522-531. Griskevicius, V. , Cialdini, R. , & Goldstein, N. (2008).Applying (and resisting) peer influence. MIT Sloan Management Review, 49(2), 84-88. Heyes, C. (2007). Cosmetic surgery and the televisual makeover: A Foucauldian feminist reading. Feminist Media Studies, 7(1), 17-32. Lippke, S. , Wiedmann, A. , Ziegelmann, J. , Reuter, T. , & Schwarzer, R. (2009) . Self-efficacy moderates the mediation of intentions into behavior via plans. American Journal of Health Behavior, 33(5), 521-529. Maner, J. , & Gerend, M. (2007). Motivationally selective risk judgments: Do fear and curiosity boost the boons or the banes?.Organizational Behavior & Human Decision Processes, 103(2), 256-267. Tan, A. , Tan, G. , Avdeyeva, T. , Crandall, H. , Fukushi, Y. , Nyandwi, A. , Chin, H. , Wu, C. , & Fujioka, Y. (2001). Changing negative racial stereotypes: The influence of normative peer information. The Howard Journal of Communications, 12(3), 171-180. Tyler, K. , Lopez, S. , & Flores, L. (2009). The media, body evaluation, and perceptions of physical attractiveness among college-aged women and men. Psi Chi Journal of Undergraduate Research, 14(1), 25-33.

Ten tips for perfect punctuation - Emphasis

Ten tips for perfect punctuation Ten tips for perfect punctuation More people are unsure of their punctuation than would ever care to admit it. Use our quick guide to make sure youre not one of them. Never use its with an apostrophe unless it means it is or it has – its amazing how many people use it wrongly. Beware also the greengrocers apostrophe (peas, carrots) when forming plurals. Apostrophes should usually only be used to show possession or omission. The exception is to avoid confusion when forming plurals of letters (eg As, which looks like As if you leave out the apostrophe). Some people object to using and or but at the beginning of sentences. But this probably has more to do with lingering fears of that scary old English teacher you had years ago than any real grammatical rule. And thats all there is to it. If you dont believe us, look again at a Shakespeare play – or even a well-respected business magazine such as The Economist. Semi-colons (;) can replace and or but. They denote a pause thats longer than a comma but shorter than a full stop (or period). Think of them as super commas if it helps. Dont overuse them, though (see below). Colons can replace so, therefore and because. The full stop (period) is the readers best friend – and it could be yours. It shortens sentences, making them easier to read. And it can get you out of a pickle when youre trying to find a clever way of saying two or three things in the same sentence: just use two or three sentences instead. Use semi-colons, brackets and dashes sparingly, as theyre stylistically heavy. If in doubt, split the sentence. If you put additional information in a sentence, like this, remember to use commas or dashes either side of the information. Its hard for the reader if theyre left out. Using all capitals on headings is hard on the eye, as it removes the all-important shape from words. (We use shape to recognise words more than you may realise.) So use initial capitals only. Too many exclamations are irritating!